The Most Important Source of Support for Finnish Culture in the United States |
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FFN tour of Finntown in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
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Did You Know...
...that the Finnish-American newspaper Amerikan Uutiset is celebrating its 90th anniversary?
The Finnish immigrant press has a long history in the U.S.; the first Finnish-language newspaper, Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti, was founded in Hancock, Michigan in 1876.
Of the 350 Finnish publications that thrived throughout the decades, Amerikan Uutiset, founded in 1932 in New York Mills, Minnesota, survives. Mikko Koskinen is editor and owner of the biweekly news, now based in Florida. It is written mainly in Finnish, but also carries stories in English.
CONGRATULATIONS
to Amerikan Uutiset on
90 Years!
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Fiercely Finnish Greetings!
Representatives of Finlandia Foundation chapters, FFN trustees and Young Leaders Board members had a productive and fun time in New York City for the "Fiercely Finnish" Joint Chapter Meeting, October 21-23 at Scandinavia House.
We were welcomed on Friday evening at the "Diamonds of the North" concert hosted by the New York Metropolitan Chapter. Our daylong meeting on Saturday was filled with news, ideas, suggestions and networking. We were honored that the recently appointed New York Consul General, Ambassador Jarmo Sareva (above), greeted and joined us at a post-meeting reception.
On Sunday, many of the attendees enjoyed touring Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which was known as Finntown. Robert Saasto, an attorney who is instrumental in preserving that history, guided us to some of the Finnish landmarks now identified with beautiful, informative plaques.
The day prior to the Joint Chapter events, the FFN board met and generated exciting news; see stories below.
We look forward with renewed energy to fulfilling our mission and support for Finland in America!
Anne-Mari Paster
President
ampaster @ rcn. com
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Announcing FFN Artist of the Year
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Finlandia Foundation has shared Finnish-American talent through its Performer of the Year, launched in 1996, and since 2006, Lecturer of the Year program.
Now, FFN is pleased to recognize visual artists with the inaugural Finlandia Foundation Artist of the Year, Eric Aho.
Eric has been called "One of the leading painters of landscape and the environment of his generation." An American of Finnish descent who lives in Vermont, he earned his BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and did postgraduate work at the Institute of Arts and Design in Lahti, Finland.
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Ida Metsberg is Performer of the Year |
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Finnish singer and songwriter Ida Metsberg, who is now at home in New York, is the FFN Performer of the Year 2023.
Ida started studying piano at age seven, and graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. She mainly accompanies herself on guitar, and has just released her debut EP, "How Do You Do It?"
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Lecturer of the Year is Suzanne Matson |
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Boston-based poet and author of the lauded novel Ultraviolet, Suzanne Matson, is FFN Lecturer of the Year 2023.
Suzanne, a professor of creative writing at Boston College, will tour as LOY from January through December. She will talk about Finnish identity as a writer, and read from her works. She offers an option of an interactive, two-hour workshop, “Writing Our Family Stories.”
Watch for details on Suzanne's tour.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
January 17, 2023: Grant application deadline; click here
February 1, 2023: Scholarship application deadline; click here
February 1, 2023: Lindfors Law Scholarship application deadline; click here
February 19-25, 2023: National Sauna Week; click here
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FINNTOWN PROJECT: Your Gifts Make It Possible
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New York attorney Robert Saasto is leading the effort to recognize and honor the contributions of Finnish immigrants to Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which was known as Finntown.
With the assistance of FFN grant funds, he has succeeded in the installation of two dozen handsome plaques on cooperative apartment buildings and other structures.
As an independent non-profit, FFN relies on your generous gifts to support the grants, scholarships, Young Leaders Board and all of our programs celebrating and promoting Finnish America and Finnish culture in the U.S.
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Your contribution is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Paloheimo Foundation (up to $100,000 annually).
Finlandia Foundation National, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Thank You! Kiitos!
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NATIONAL SAUNA WEEK
February 19-25, 2023
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